The Curriculum and Assessment Review: Response Guidance
8th November 2024
The Department for Education (DfE) has opened a Call for Evidence to all stakeholders about what works, what doesn’t and what can be improved in Curriculum and Assessment in the English education system. We invite you to join us in making a response to ensure that music is powerfully represented to the DfE as a crucial component of a balanced curriculum.
We previously shared some general reflections on the review, including some core beliefs held by members of the Music Mark team:
- Music should be made a statutory subject
- Music should be valued for its own worth
These beliefs underpin our suggested responses to the survey, which are available for you to download below. We hope that these will support you whether you want to amplify what we have written or tailor the answers to reflect your experience.
This is not our complete response but instead is designed to help you navigate the survey and share your expertise and reflections about music in education. We are in many conversations about the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and we publish this knowing that we form an important part of the picture alongside other creative subjects. Other subject associations are also posting their responses and guidance – you may wish to read the ISM’s response here.
We urge you to complete the online survey by the 22nd November 2024 to strengthen the position of music as an essential component of school life, for all.
These are the 18 questions we consider a contribution from the music sector and music educators to be important.
- Section 1: Qs 10,11, 12, 13, 14 What is working well? Needs improvement? Barriers?
- Section 2: Qs 16 English and Maths
- Section 3: Qs 22, 23, 25, 27 Curriculum content
- Section 4: Qs 28, 29, 31 Broad & Balanced, pathways, qualifications (Q 31 is specifically asking about creative skills and creative subjects)
- Section 5: Qs 32, 42, Data, trends, pupil progress and outcomes at KS3; how can we improve?
- Section 6: Q 44, Accountability; (e.g. Ofsted) Does it affect decision-making?
- Section 7: Q 53, Future use of technology
